Production Scheduler/Coordinator The Production Scheduler/Coordinator owns the production schedule for the Douglassville, PA facility and the production schedule and raw material requirements for the Utah (UT) co-manufacturing operation. Reporting to the Supply Chain Manager, this role converts demand and forecast into an executable, optimized build plan balancing runs per month against warehouse space, minimizing SKU changeovers, and sequencing CIP sanitation and then creates the Process Orders in SAP that give the plant a clear plan to execute against. This is a planning and coordination role, not a floor execution role. The Production Scheduler/Coordinator plans the work, creates the Process Orders, and makes sure the materials are on hand when the plan calls for them. The Production Manager owns execution of those Process Orders on the floor, including correct material allocation and consumption. The Production Scheduler/Coordinator also serves as the primary backup and support to the Supply Chain Manager across purchasing, bulk logistics, and inventory functions. This position is based in a manufacturing plant environment, which may involve exposure to loud noise, heavy machinery, or complete special projects.
Reports To: Supply Chain Manager
Direct Reports:- Warehouse Associate
- Materials Coordinator
- Major Job Functions
- Production Scheduling Douglassville, PA (Primary)
Owns the PA production schedule. Develops, publishes, and maintains the daily, weekly, and monthly production schedule for the Douglassville facility. This role is the single point of accountability for what the schedule says.
Analyzes outstanding orders, on-hand and in-transit inventory, production capabilities, and warehouse capacity to build and adjust the schedule.
Optimizes the schedule to minimize SKU runs per month, sequence changeovers efficiently, and balance CIP sanitation cycles across the month.
Creates Process Orders in SAP as the planning instrument. Builds and releases Process Orders so the plant has a documented, sequenced plan to execute against. Creation and release of the Process Order is a planning act; execution, confirmation, and closure are owned by Production.
Meets daily with production management to review attainment, refine the schedule, and redistribute the plan as conditions change.
Communicates schedule changes, ingredient movement requirements, and formulation or Change Management updates to the production team and to the Supply Chain Manager.
Tracks schedule attainment and reports variances, root causes, and recovery plans.
Production Planning Utah (UT) (Primary):
Owns the UT production schedule and raw material requirements. Builds and maintains the monthly UT schedule and the corresponding raw material requirement plan.
Performs Material Requirements Planning (MRP) for UT and issues requirements to the Supply Chain Manager and purchasing in time to secure supply.
Coordinates with the UT co-manufacturing partner remotely on schedule confirmation, material arrival timing, and run adjustments. No on-site presence is required.
Manages SAP Stock Transport Orders (STOs) supporting UT material and finished goods movement.
Tracks UT attainment against plan and escalates supply or capacity risks.
Material Availability & Bulk Coordination:
Assists in ensuring materials are available in PA when the schedule needs them. Performs daily cross-checks of raw and packaging materials against the schedule to confirm case attainment is achievable, and flags gaps early to the Supply Chain Manager and purchasing. Coordinates bulk tankers. Schedules and sequences inbound milk, cream, sugar, and palm oil tankers against the production plan; confirms delivery windows, silo availability, and receiving readiness with Production. Supports the material balance for skim, milk, and cream including silo CIP timing and milk movement between silos or from silo to batching to keep the schedule compliant with the 72-hour rule. Communicates inbound material status and updated arrival times to production daily. Does not direct floor-level material staging, allocation, or consumption; that work is directed by the Production Manager and executed by the production and warehouse teams.
Inventory Accuracy:
Assists with raw material inventory accuracy. Monitors on-hand raw material balances against system records, investigates discrepancies, and drives corrections with the Materials Coordinator and Warehouse Associate.
Participates in monthly and semi-monthly physical inventory counts and supports variance research and reconciliation.
Reviews and corrects SAP inventory movements and consumption postings related to planning transactions.
Identifies recurring sources of inventory error and recommends process corrections to the Supply Chain Manager.
Supply Chain Support:
Serves as cross-trained backup to the Supply Chain Manager for raw and packaging purchasing during absence or peak workload.
Supports supplier follow-up on open purchase orders, delivery confirmations, and expedites at the direction of the Supply Chain Manager.
Supports plant trials and new product commercialization by planning trial runs into the schedule and identifying trial material requirements.
Contributes production forecast input and supports alignment meetings with key customers as directed by the Supply Chain Manager.
Tracks and reports on scheduling and material availability key performance indicators.
Supervision:
Supervises and directs the Warehouse Associate and Materials Coordinator. Sets daily priorities, approves time, and manages performance and development for direct reports.
Scope Boundaries:- The following distinctions define this role relative to Production and Supply Chain leadership and are considered part of the job requirements.
- Production Scheduler/Coordinator owns
- The PA production schedule what runs, in what sequence, on what day.
- The UT production schedule and UT raw material requirements.
- Creation and release of Process Orders in SAP as a planning and organizing instrument.
- Material requirement visibility identifying what is needed, by when, and confirming it is inbound or on hand.
- Bulk tanker scheduling and inbound coordination.
- Raw material inventory accuracy support and count participation.
Escalation:- When the plan cannot be executed as written material shortage, equipment loss, capacity conflict the Production Manager escalates to the Production Scheduler/Coordinator, who reschedules and reissues the plan.
- When a material gap cannot be closed within the schedule horizon, the Production Scheduler/Coordinator escalates to the Supply Chain Manager.
- Required Skills/Abilities/Education
- Associate degree or four years of related manufacturing work experience preferred
- Understanding and experience with ERP systems and planning tools (SAP experience strongly preferred)
- Experience creating and managing Process Orders, STOs, and MRP within an ERP system
- Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook
- Strong analytical skills
- Strong mathematical skills
- Experience in Inventory Management preferred
- Experience in Supply Chain is a plus
- Experience coordinating bulk ingredient logistics preferred
- Prior supervisory or team lead experience preferred
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment meeting schedules and deadlines
Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
